Trail conditions
Banff National Park
Whether you're out for a leisurely hike or a longer adventure, make your trip a safe one by checking the latest conditions.
Important information
Be extra cautious when engaging in any activities to avoid injury and/or getting lost to help minimize the demands placed on emergency response, search and rescue teams, and on the health care system.
Current fire danger
CAUTION! Avalanche danger
You are responsible for your own safety. Check the Avalanche Bulletin for the latest conditions.
Vehicle parking is limited to designated areas only. Roadside parking is prohibited. Signage and monitoring will be used throughout the park to inform the public of parking restrictions and encourage compliance.
Dogs are not allowed on some of the groomed ski trails. Refer to the information below for restrictions. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control at all times.
Wildlife and you
When you see wildlife, give them space for your safety and their survival. If you’re out on the trails, travel in tight groups of 4 or more, stay alert, make noise, carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Closures and restrictions
For a complete list of ongoing closures and restrictions, please visit our Important Bulletins page.
For more information, please contact us:
Banff: 403-762-1550
Lake Louise: 403-522-3833
Share your trail pictures
Have you been hiking in the last few days? Share a few pictures with us as well as your impressions. This will help us keep this report accurate for other hikers.
Fire Danger Rating
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banff National Park | Low | 2025-11-04: Not applicable; | Trail details |
Banff Area Cross-Country Ski Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Easy |
Spray River Winter: West Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River Winter: East Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Winter Trails | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Sundance Winter Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Winter Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Lake Minnewanka parking lot to Upper Bankhead | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Lake Minnewanka parking lot to Cascade River bridge | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Cascade River bridge to Stoney Creek | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Goat Creek Winter Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Brewster Creek Winter Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
Banff Area Winter Walking Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Fenland Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Marsh Winter Loop | Variable conditions. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray Winter Connector | Variable conditions. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Icy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Winter Trail | Partially closed, check trail details for additional information. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; Partially closed; Check the important bulletins for more information; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
Banff Area Snowshoeing Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Winter Trail | Partially closed, check trail details for additional information. | 2025-11-07: Partially closed; Check the important bulletins for more information; Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Studded tires recommended; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Winter Loop | Variable conditions. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Snow covered; Icy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 2025-11-07: Cleats recommended; Freeze / thaw cycle; Snow covered; Icy sections; | Trail details |
Banff Area Fat Biking Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Multi-use Winter Trails | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Slippery sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; Studded tires recommended; Thin snow cover; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Winter Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Slippery sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; Studded tires recommended; Thin snow cover; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Sundance Winter Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Icy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Banff Avenue Winter Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Icy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Winter Loop | Partially Closed | 2025-11-07: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Check the important bulletins for more information; Respect all posted notices and signs; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Winter Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Slippery sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; Studded tires recommended; Thin snow cover; | Trail details |
Bow Valley Parkway Cross-Country Ski Trails
*Tracksetting has not begun for the season* More snow needed for tracksetting
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #1 - Castle Junction to Castle Lookout trailhead | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #2 | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #3 | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Protection Mountain Campground to Castle Mountain Lookout | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Baker Creek to Protection Mountain Campground | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Trails
Winter conditions. Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond the marked trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume that you are in avalanche country - your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment. For more information on winter travel and how to stay safe in the mountains, visit Parks Canada - Mountain Safety - Winter Activities.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 2025-11-06: Caution; Slippery sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 2025-11-06: Caution; Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Louise Creek Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 2025-11-06: Caution; Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Taylor Lake Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 2025-11-06: Caution; Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Laggan's Loop | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-06: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area Cross-Country Ski Trails
Recent tracksetting: Nov 7 - Upper Tramline; Lower Tramline; Moraine Lake road; Great Divide (machine-packed only). Nov 6 - Campground Loop
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Moraine Lake Road | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Avalanche risk: Beyond the viewpoint the trail crosses large avalanche paths.; When trailhead parking is full, access Moraine Lake Road via Upper Tramline trail and park at Lake Louise parking lot or Great Divide parking lot; No parking on roadways, or highways; No dogs allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Double trackset and skate-skiing lane; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Fairview Loop | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lower Tramline | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Begin the Lower Tramline from the Bow River parking lot on Sentinel Road (near The Station Restaurant). You can use the old or the new route. CAUTION! - The new route between the Lower Tramline and the Bow River bridge on Lake Louise Drive is not track set, is steep, narrow and has sharp turns.; No dogs allowed; Old route: Single trackset classic; no dogs allowed;; Thin snow cover. Early winter conditions; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Tramline | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Single trackset; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Thin snow cover; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Loop | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-03: Lake Louise Loop is made up of two separately maintained trails: Lake Louise shoreline and Lake Surface ; Lake surface is not yet frozen; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Upper Telemark | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-03: Fire management operations - smoke and machinery in area; Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Fire management operations - smoke and machinery in area; Packed and graded; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Peyto Trail | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Telemark | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-03: Fire management operations - smoke and machinery in area; Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Campground Loop | Early season conditions. | 2025-11-07: Double trackset classic and skate; Thin snow cover; Dogs on leash permitted; Fresh snow covering track set; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Townsite | Early season conditions. | 2025-10-26: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone Loop | See comment section | 2025-11-03: Trail closed November 14 - spring 2026 due to fire management operations; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Drummond | See comment section | 2025-11-03: Trail closed November 14 - spring 2026 due to fire management operations; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Hector | See comment section | 2025-11-03: Trail closed November 14 - spring 2026 due to fire management operations; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Merlin | See comment section | 2025-11-03: Trail closed November 14 - spring 2026 due to fire management operations; | Trail details |
Bow Summit Area on Icefields Parkway
Winter conditions. Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond the marked trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume that you are in avalanche country - your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment. For more information on winter travel and how to stay safe in the mountains, visit parksmountainsafety.ca
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Peyto Lake Viewpoint | Snow covered with icy sections. | 2025-10-26: Trekking pole(s) recommended; Slippery sections; Stay on trail; Dogs on leash permitted; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
- Date modified :